A University of Colorado Cancer Center study shows that breast cancer patients without prescription drug coverage are less likely to start and continue hormonal therapy due to high costs. Women from lower-income households were particularly affected, highlighting the need for affordable prescription coverage.
A broad-spectrum approach to cancer treatment and prevention is being developed by researchers, focusing on low-toxicity agents from plants and foods that target multiple pathways involved in cancer development. The approach aims to improve upon current targeted therapies and reduce costs associated with toxicity and treatment duration.
A new study funded by The Ben & Catherine Ivy Foundation has identified propentofylline as a potential drug that could help treat glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a deadly brain tumor. The research found that PPF can limit the spread of GBM and increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy.
A new study by Oregon State University reveals that rural residents aged 85 or older have higher levels of chronic disease, take more medications, and die earlier than their urban counterparts. The research highlights the challenges faced by older populations in rural areas due to limited access to healthcare services.
A study at MD Anderson Cancer Center found that suppressing epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in combination with gemcitabine may boost the drug's effectiveness against pancreatic cancer. EMT suppression leads to impaired sensitivity to chemotherapy, causing poor prognosis and metastasis.
A new blood test can detect when breast cancers become resistant to standard hormone treatment, allowing for early identification and alternative treatment options. Researchers developed the test to identify ESR1 mutations, which convey resistance to hormone treatment.
Researchers discover a link between colorectal cancer and melanoma treatment NT157, targeting both tumor cells and microenvironment to suppress cancer growth. The compound's dual mechanism of action shows promise in treating colon cancer with minimal damage to non-cancer cells.
A new study suggests that rare 'missense' mutations in the HER2 gene may not cause breast cancer growth or spread on their own. The research team found that such mutations may also fail to predict response to anti-cancer drugs targeting the HER2 gene, unlike common amplification alterations.
Researchers have discovered a new genetic cause of childhood kidney cancer, Wilms tumour, linked to mutations in the REST gene. The study found that REST mutations occur in about 10% of familial cases and can be detected through simple blood tests, providing valuable information for families affected by the disease.
Researchers at Temple University Health System have discovered a small molecule inhibitor that selectively kills cancer cells with BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations. The compound, 6-hydroxy-DL-dopa, works by blocking an alternative DNA repair pathway, providing a promising approach to precision medicine for various cancers.
Experts discuss the impact of affordable medicines on breast cancer treatment, highlighting the importance of healthcare structures in improving patient outcomes. The lack of effective systems can negate even new, expensive treatments.
Researchers have developed a blood test that can identify key mutations driving resistance to a widely used prostate cancer drug. The test predicts which patients will not respond to treatment and can inform personalized treatment options.
Australian scientists identified a critical molecular feedback loop in neuroblastoma that accelerates cancer development. Experimental drug CBL0137 has the potential to interrupt this loop and halt tumour progression, showing promising results in laboratory models.
A BU School of Medicine researcher has identified a small molecule that selectively kills ALT-positive cancer cells, offering a potential therapeutic approach to deadly forms of human cancer. The discovery targets the ALT pathway, frequently reactivated in aggressive cancers such as osteosarcoma and glioblastoma.
A new study found that breast cancer adjuvant therapies have varying effects on patients over time. Researchers analyzed 19 clinical trials and discovered nearly half showed time-varying treatment effects.
A study published in JAMA Dermatology found that a common heart medication can stop the progression of angiosarcoma, a highly lethal blood vessel cancer. The treatment used propranolol, which costs significantly less than current therapies.
A recent study found that antiangiogenic breast cancer treatment primarily benefits patients with highly perfused tumors. The treatment reduced pressure within tumors and improved blood vessel density, but its effectiveness depends on the tumor's microvascular density before treatment.
Researchers at University of Oxford have discovered a new treatment targeting cancer cells with specific SETD2 mutations. The innovative approach uses a drug inhibiting WEE1 protein, exploiting synthetic lethality to selectively kill cancer cells.
New liposome technology allows for targeted delivery of cancer drugs, using heat-activated triggers to control release. This innovative approach could reduce collateral damage and improve treatment efficacy.
Dr. Emily Scott's work focuses on understanding how cytochrome P450s remove foreign chemicals from the body, allowing physicians to determine optimal medication frequencies and prevent diseases like cancer. Her lab is now working to stabilize interactions between P450s and helper proteins.
Researchers have discovered a genomic molecular fingerprint, signature 3, that highlights certain gastric cancers susceptible to treatment with platinum drugs or PARP inhibitor drugs. This biomarker could guide targeted therapy for breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers as well.
The new approach uses a single chemical compound that makes cancer cells glow when exposed to near-infrared light, allowing for more effective removal of tumors. In laboratory tests, tumors were completely eradicated without side effects, and the treatment showed promise in targeting specific cancers.
A study published in JAMA Oncology found that superlatives like 'breakthrough' and 'miracle' were used to describe unapproved cancer drugs, often without clinical data. Targeted therapy was the most commonly referenced class of drugs, with immunologic checkpoint inhibitors also being frequently described as 'game-changers'.
Franziska Michor is awarded the NYSCF -- Robertson Stem Cell Prize for her interdisciplinary research on cancer genesis, using mathematical models to understand cancer evolution. Her work simulates drug treatment regimens and has been tested in clinical trials for non-small-cell lung cancer and brain tumors.
A new clinical trial has shown that a gene-targeted drug, olaparib, can benefit up to 33% of patients with treatment-resistant advanced prostate cancer. The trial found that men whose tumours had defects in DNA repair machinery responded particularly well to the drug.
A retrospective survival analysis of 229 patients with late-stage cancer found that those who received methylnaltrexone lived twice as long and had fewer tumor progression reports compared to placebo groups. The study suggests methylnaltrexone may play a role in cancer therapy, but the exact mechanism is unclear.
Researchers discovered a protein called Zmiz1 that sticks to the Notch gene, triggering its cancer function. Deleting Zmiz1 from Notch eliminates the cancer effect while preserving normal health functions.
PharmaMar presents new studies on the treatment of ovarian cancer using YONDELIS (trabectedin) and PM1183, showing promising results in managing recurrent cancer. The studies highlight the potential benefits of combining these therapies to improve patient outcomes.
Researchers have discovered molecular changes within tumors that prevent immunotherapy drugs from killing off cancer cells. By reprogramming an epigenetic mechanism, the therapy might work for more patients, according to senior author Weiping Zou.
Researchers have discovered a new combination of drugs that may be effective against resistant, BRAF-mutant melanoma by targeting different signaling pathways. The combination showed synergistic effects in tumors resistant to BRAF inhibition.
Scientists have created a highly specific chemical probe that switches off two important proteins implicated in cancer cell proliferation. The probe, CCT251545, selectively binds to CDK8 and CDK19, blocking the WNT signalling pathway and providing new insights into their role in driving cancer growth.
This special issue examines cancer screening, treatment, survivorship, access to care, and global health. Research articles investigate colorectal cancer screening, patient perceptions of stool DNA-based testing, financial barriers to specialty care for uninsured patients, and the role of primary health care in China's reform.
Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute used publicly available cancer databases to identify novel cancer driver genes associated with cancer progression. The study found 71 previously unrecognized interfaces in proteins that may serve as new predictive markers or drug targets.
Biosimilars are complex proteins that provide therapeutically equivalent alternatives to expensive biologics, reducing treatment costs in rheumatology and other fields. The introduction of biosimilars into clinical practice requires careful management to ensure patient safety and efficacy.
A small phase I clinical trial found that an FDA-approved leukemia drug improved cognition, motor skills, and non-motor function in patients with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia. The drug, nilotinib, also reduced toxic proteins linked to disease progression.
A study published in Science reveals a mechanism that allows key immune system cells to restrain their more aggressive brother cells, protecting healthy tissue from assault. By targeting this genetic pathway with drugs, it may be possible to convert these cells into cancer-fighting cells.
Researchers have discovered a protein in malaria that can bind to a sugar molecule found in many types of cancer. This binding enables anti-cancer drugs to be delivered precisely to tumors. The findings offer new potential for treating various cancers, including melanoma and lung cancer.
Scientists have developed a blood test that can pair cancer patients with the most suitable therapy for their disease, giving real-time updates on tumor progression. This approach could make diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring quicker, cheaper, and less invasive.
Researchers have identified distinct microbial signatures in triple negative breast cancer tissue, suggesting potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications. The study found a predominantly viral and bacterial signature, with some fungi and parasites also present.
Case Western Reserve University researcher Efstathios Karathanasis has received a $2.82 million grant to develop a treatment that eradicates glioblastoma multiforme with one safe dose. The treatment uses chain-like nanoparticles carrying chemotherapy medicine and inhibitors to target brain tumor cells.
A University of Colorado Cancer Center study found TAK-733 to be highly active against colorectal cancer cells and tumors, with 42 of 54 cell lines sensitive to the drug. However, inconsistent absorption and bioavailability were observed, raising concerns about safety and tolerability.
Scientists discovered a malaria protein that targets sugar molecules found in placentas and most cancers, leading to the development of an anti-cancer drug. The new approach halted tumour growth in mice and showed promising results in treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, prostate cancer, and metastatic breast cancer.
Researchers discovered a malaria protein that binds to a common sugar molecule found on both placentas and cancer cells. A novel technology was developed to arm antibodies with high potency toxins to specifically kill cancer cells, showing promising results in clinical trials.
Childhood cancer survivors showed significant improvements in working memory, attention, and processing speed after completing computer-based cognitive training. The training program, using Cogmed, improved performance comparable to stimulant medications and showed changes in brain activity suggesting neuroplasticity.
Researchers identified four consensus molecular subtypes of bowel cancer, allowing doctors to treat each type differently. The study has implications for identifying patients at risk of developing more serious disease and tailoring treatments.
A comprehensive study of non-protein-coding RNAs in human cancers has identified alterations linked to 13 different cancer types. The research provides a rich resource for investigating lncRNA dysregulation and identifying potential diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
A new study reveals how breast cancer cells become desensitized to lapatinib, a common cancer drug, by turning FOXO into an oncogene c-Myc. The researchers hope to develop new tools to fix this adaptation pathway and improve therapy for HER2+ breast cancer.
Researchers discovered that mice lacking both Pten and Shp2 enzymes are prone to lethal anemia, which can occur even if they lack one of the enzymes alone. This finding suggests that genomic screening before treatment may help prevent anemia in cancer patients.
Researchers at Indiana University have discovered how cancer-induced bone destruction causes skeletal muscle weakness. Inhibiting TGF-β improved muscle function in mouse models of human cancers.
Researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute have created a 3D image of cancer protein Trib1, revealing its role in controlling protein levels within cells. The finding could lead to the development of new drugs to treat cancers such as leukemia.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center have discovered a compound that effectively controls the growth of EWS-FLI1-driven cancer cells in mice. The study found that YK-4-279 significantly reduced leukemia cell numbers and improved mouse health, suggesting potential as a therapeutic agent for various cancers.
Discussing a menu of reasonable treatment options with patients can improve patient compliance and health outcomes. Physicians often present only one option, but a partnership approach that includes patient preference can make a real difference.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine identified a previously unknown genomic landscape in Sezary syndrome, a rare and aggressive leukemia. The study reveals recurrent loss-of-function mutations in genes regulating epigenetic pathways, including ARID1A, which occurred in over 40% of the genome studied.
Researchers describe a case of a 53-yr-old male with early T-cell precursor leukemia who achieved complete remission after treatment with the NOTCH inhibitor BMS-906024. Genetic and epigenetic analysis revealed that the patient's cancer was driven by hyperactive NOTCH1 signaling, which was successfully targeted by GSI treatment.
A new pan-Canadian Dream Team, led by Tak W. Mak and Samuel Aparicio, will research novel approaches to treating aggressive breast cancers. The team aims to develop new therapies targeting genetic instability in tumor cells.
Researchers have discovered a new approach to understanding cancer mechanisms, biomarkers, and treatments using RNA editing events. The study, published in Cancer Cell, found that specific RNA editing processes could selectively affect drug sensitivity and may lead to the development of targeted therapies.
A Phase 2 clinical trial found that gene therapy VB-111 increased overall survival to 15 months, compared to 8 months for those receiving chemotherapy Avastin alone. The therapy effectively starves tumors by blocking new blood vessel growth and is safe and well-tolerated.
Researchers at NYU Langone Health found that GANT61 increases myelin production by 50% and recruits neural stem cells to repair damaged areas of the brain. The treatment also improves symptoms in mice with multiple sclerosis, including paralysis and leg weakness.
A new study led by UCSF scientist Neal Benowitz found that reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes can substantially decrease tobacco dependence without increasing inhalation. Smokers who reduced cigarette intake reported attempts to quit twice as often and had lower cravings compared to those smoking regular cigarettes.
Researchers are investigating two new avenues for detection and treatment of advanced prostate cancer, focusing on biochemical reactions downstream of the androgen receptor. By targeting the metabolism of cancer cells, they aim to bypass ineffective drugs and develop new therapies.